Gorilla Mind Smooth Review – Complete Nootropic Formula Breakdown

Gorilla Mind Smooth is the most potent and comprehensive stimulant-free Nootropic formula on the market.

If you don't already know what Nootropics are, they are a category of compounds that can improve cognitive function.

This can extend into many different specific benefits, but the main draw of Nootropics is their impact on productivity, concentration, creativity and information retention.

Gorilla Mind Smooth is our stimulant-free version of Gorilla Mind that provides a smoother, much less extreme level of energy, but still maximizes mental clarity, memory, creativity and focus.

Regardless if you're currently using stimulant-based products (coffee, energy drinks, pre-workouts, etc.), cycling off of stimulants, or just never use stimulants, Gorilla Mind Smooth is the most potent Nootropic formula you can add into your life to enhance cognitive function.

The original Gorilla Mind Smooth formula had PEA, Hordenine and Teacrine in it.

Originally, I was trying to chase a stimulant-free energy boost in Smooth, which is why I had those ingredients in it.

However, over the past year I've started to really lean towards reformulating Smooth to create an entirely Nootropic comprised formula that is 100% geared towards maxing out cognitive function, rather than chase a relatively weak level of energy that we already destroy with Gorilla Mind Rush.

Anyone buying Gorilla Mind that is using it for the laser focus and massive boost in energy and productivity is buying RUSH anyways, not SMOOTH.

Instead of wasting precious capsule space with things that achieve a subpar level of energy, I decided that space would be far better utilized with other Nootropics.

This is what led to me creating the current Gorilla Mind Smooth formula, which now has 1000 mg of Lion's Mane mushroom and 500 mg of Kanna in it.

These compounds are far more conducive to enhancing the SMOOTH formula by supporting actual brain health, creativity, mental clarity and memory formation.

If you want ridiculous amounts of energy and drive, get RUSH.

For those who want a true stimulant-free Nootropic formula, SMOOTH is even better now and I highly recommend you give it a try.

Gorilla Mind Smooth Vs. Other Nootropics On The Market

This is the most maxed out stim-free Nootropic formula on the market.

The full daily dose is 6 capsules.

Even a half dose (3 capsules) is still far more potent than the majority of other Nootropic formulas out there at their max dosages.

I formulated Gorilla Mind Smooth the exact same way I formulate any other product.

I put in exactly what I would buy myself if I were shopping for each Nootropic separately.

If you thought the pre-workout market was bad for underdosed products, your jaw will drop when you see some of the top selling Nootropic formulas.

This industry is even worse because it is so niche and new.

Preying on unsuspecting customers with garbage formulas sprinkled with vitamins and completely useless dosages of Nootropics is even more common in this industry.

Because Nootropics are relatively new and uncharted waters for many, the prices get pretty aggressive on these watered down formulas as well that promise the world, and deliver nothing more than placebo.

What's baffling to me is how many people eat up the marketing and blindly buy products priced at $60, $70, even $100 that probably cost $4-5 max to make.

When the cost of bottles, lids, and labels costs more than the Nootropics in your formula, there's a f*cking problem.

Fortunately, my audience is comprised of intelligent individuals who actually know how to spot value.

It would be so easy to make a formula with a couple hundred milligrams of cheap choline that doesn't even cross the blood brain barrier, 100-200 mg of Bacopa Monnieri, throw a bit of caffeine in there for a kick, put some exotic sounding ayurvedic herbs in there, maybe sprinkle a couple low dosed Adaptogens in there, add a useless pinch of vitamins to make my label look more impressive and confusing, and then slap a label on it like every other company and then aggressively smash people with ads and market a high priced subscription model to the masses, or put it up on Amazon to compete with all the other loss leader cheap and ineffective Nootropics on there.

The fact that the hypothetical piece of sh*t formula I just made up as an example of what not to do is actually still better than most of the Nootropic formulas on the market just goes to show how much some companies are deceiving their customers.

If the majority of a company's budget goes into ads and sponsorships instead of product formulation, or they have a high ranking product on amazon, you can almost guarantee without even looking at the product that it sucks.

Unlike what most companies will lead you to believe, there is no Nootropic formula that will lock you in like Bradley Cooper from Limitless (great movie by the way).

Just like our other products, it is me making the formula, and I put in what I would want to use as a customer.

I used to spend time every day in University measuring out all my different Nootropics that were in my “stack”, and toss and washing random powders.

Obviously it makes things much easier to just have it in ready to go capsules that are actually dosed properly.

With my products, everything is turnkey.

How To Dose Gorilla Mind Smooth

Take 3-6 capsules in the morning, or spread throughout the day.

Start with 3 capsules to evaluate your tolerance.

While Gorilla Mind Rush requires more of a tolerance assessment and slow dosage titration over time due to the heavy hitting stimulants, you will more than likely be fine jumping head first into Gorilla Mind Smooth and tapering up to the maximum recommended dose relatively quickly.

Gorilla Mind Smooth Vs. Gorilla Mind Rush

While the foundation of Nootropics in both Gorilla Mind products are mostly the same, there are some key differences between the two formulas.

The main difference is that RUSH has a handful of potent stimulants that completely change how the product feels.

RUSH is best stimulant-based Nootropic formula on the market for really waking you up and giving you tunnel vision focus and productivity.

The strong backbone of Nootropics in RUSH are the portion that can actually enhance information recall, creativity, etc.

But, the stimulants in RUSH are the driving force of the product, and can really be a game changer in productivity.

SMOOTH on the other hand is stimulant-free and has the same Nootropics as RUSH, but also has 1000 mg of Lion's Mane mushroom and 500 mg of Kanna.

Lion's Mane is amazing for supporting cognitive health, memory formation and mental clarity, while Kanna is a potent mood booster and can also support improved focus and energy levels.

Gorilla Mind Smooth is significantly toned down in the energy department, so if you have too high of a sensitivity to stimulants or simply want a smoother level of focus, this would be more ideal for you.

How To Combine Gorilla Mind Rush And Gorilla Mind Smooth

If you don’t want to pick between either having the giant burst of energy and laser focus that RUSH provides, or the cognitive enhancing benefits of the Lion's Mane and Kanna in SMOOTH, you can combine the products.

By taking 6 capsules of either, you will be getting a top end dose of Nootropics.

Even with 3 capsules of either product you will still get an effective dose of Nootropics, and with RUSH, many won't even be able to exceed 3 capsules because the stimulant blend is extremely strong.

If you are not a stim junkie who needs 6 capsules of RUSH I would recommend getting both so you can strategically tweak how much energy you want to get from the Rush to not over-stimulate yourself, but also reach the maxed out mental benefit you would get out of the Nootropics in each respective version of the product.

Rotating Gorilla Mind Smooth and Gorilla Mind Rush

Use Gorilla Mind Rush on days that require the most focus, productivity and energy.

By rotating RUSH and SMOOTH, you can keep yourself sensitive to the stimulants in Gorilla Mind Rush, and reap the maximum benefit from each product during each use.

Do You Need To Cycle Off Of Gorilla Mind Smooth?

While SMOOTH will not cause tolerance build up like RUSH, I would still advise cycling off of everything for a week every month or so.

Alternatively, allocate a couple days each week to days you do not take anything, including RUSH.

Gorilla Mind Smooth Ingredients Breakdown

L-Tyrosine – 1000 mg

L-Tyrosine is an amazing cognitive enhancing amino acid that acts by balancing neurotransmitter levels in the brain.

Its primary role is as the direct precursor to thyroxine and to the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.

This is the same kind of tactic used to try and market new and “improved” forms of creatine that at the end of the day do not yield any additional benefit, and just feature an inflated price tag.

In our first batch of Gorilla Mind, we actually had N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine in the formulas based on these claims of improved water solubility and bioavailability by our manufacturer at the time.

After delving into the data further, I realized the massive difference in bioavailability and swapped out the N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine for straight L-Tyrosine, found a better manufacturing facility, and all batches of Gorilla Mind products since then have featured L-Tyrosine instead.

By maintaining optimal levels of NGF one may be able to support brain plasticity for improved information retention, memorization, as well as general cognitive health.

Effect On Beta Amyloid Levels And Cognitive Decline

In a rodent model, Lion's Mane was shown to attenuate the negative cognitive effects of beta amyloid in the brain (what is believed to be the main cause of Alzheimer's) [R].

It was also shown to ameliorate Alzheimer’s disease-related pathologies in several other rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease [R, R].

Mood Elevation And Stress Reduction

Lion’s Mane also contains erinacine and other bioactive compounds that may increase dopamine production and improve state of well-being.

One study showed that Lion's Mane supplementation reduced depression and anxiety after 4 weeks of use [R].

DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol) – 750 mg

DMAE's mechanism of action isn't fully understood, but it appears to work primarily by stimulating cholinergic receptors and has shown to improve cognitive function, energy levels, focus, and act as a neuroprotectant [R].

DMAE Vs. Ritalin Study

One double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted on 74 children with learning problems compared the efficacy of DMAE to Ritalin for treating ADHD [R].

The children were either given 40 mg of Ritalin, 500 mg of DMAE, or a placebo every day for 3 months.

Behavior rating forms, reaction time, and an array of other psychometric tests were given before and after treatment.

DMAE showed improvements in these metrics of approximately the same magnitude as Ritalin.

No major side effects were noted with either treatment with exception of 6 of the children on Ritalin noting appetite suppression.

Alpha GPC 50% (L-alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine) – 600 mg

Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha-GPC) is the highest quality and most bioavailable form of Choline.

Taking massive dosages of straight Choline has shown to have no cognitive effect in humans [R].

Alpha-GPC on the other hand has shown to cross the blood brain barrier and provide the brain with a rapidly absorbed form of choline.

This then supports the synthesis and release of acetylcholine.

The surge of quickly absorbed choline in conjunction with the release of acetylcholine helps support an array of cognitive functions including but not limited to memory, HGH production, physical performance, concentration, focus, and information absorption/recall [R, R, R].

Alpha-GPC has also shown to significantly increase strength and may be an effective ergogenic aid [R].

How Much Choline Do You Need Per Day?

The Adequate Intake (AI), as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Institute of Medicine, for adults is 550 mg per day for men and 425 mg per day for women.

We all know how brutally underestimated some of the AI's have proved to be in the past couple decades, and there is evidence suggesting that the AI for Choline is also far too low.

One study showed that 2200 mg per day of Choline protected against the DNA damage that otherwise occurred in people consuming only 550 mg [R].

There are not enough studies on Choline, and it is a severely lacking area of research considering how important it is for brain health.

I would shoot for at least 900-1200 mg of Choline per day.

A big chunk of that can be achieved through regular liver and egg yolk consumption, but supplementation will help you hit that number with much greater ease.

I eat 1 ounce of beef liver, 4 large eggs, and supplement with 600 mg of Alpha-GPC every day via Gorilla Mind.

I also take extra precautions to support methylation, which I will delve into later in the methylation subsection.

Alpha-GPC's Effect On Alzheimer's Dementia

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients with Alzheimer's dementia were treated with Alpha-GPC (400-mg capsules) or placebo capsules, 3 times daily, for 180 days [R].

In the Alpha-GPC group, assessed parameters consistently improved after 90 and 180 days versus baseline, whereas in the placebo group those same parameters remained unchanged or worsened.

The results suggest that Alpha-GPC is a promising intervention for attenuating the cognitive decline that occurs from neurodegenerative disease.

Alpha-GPC's Effect On Methylation And Health Status

The MTHFR gene codes for an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, or MTHFR.

This enzyme is needed for the production of DNA and supporting methylation pathways that are essential for all bodily functions.

Genetic variations in this gene results in reduced activity of the enzyme and has been associated with cardiovascular disease, neurological defects, some forms of cancer, and a myriad of other diseases and disorders [R, R].

Personally, I am homozygous for C677T of MTHFR, which results in a 80-90% decrease in my efficiency in processing folic acid.

The direct reflection of that in blood biomarkers can be high homocysteine and low B12 and folate levels.

Normally your body creates methyl groups by recycling Homocysteine to Methionine, as well as by converting Choline to Betaine.

When nutrient intake needs are sufficiently met, the body depends on these two mechanisms equally.

However, if you are deprived of methyl groups or have poor MTHFR activity because of a polymorphism, you can change that and start to create a disproportional ratio of dependency on the Choline to Betaine pathway.

If you can't create enough Methylfolate, your body will ramp up the use of Betaine and Choline for methyl groups.

By ramping up Choline to Betaine conversion to support methylation, your body can become depleted of the Choline it needs to create Acetylcholine.

Downstream, the depletion of Choline can eventually lead to impaired cognitive function, DNA damage, and can be deleterious to overall health.

The prevalence of MTHFR polymorphisms and micronutrient deficient diets is so common nowadays that almost everyone could benefit from Alpha-GPC supplementation to maintain higher levels of Choline.

I take 600 mg of Alpha-GPC every day on top of the Betaine and Creatine I get from Gorilla Mode (or Gorilla Mode Nitric when I am not taking stimulants) to support methylation, improve my health, and optimize my performance.

Alpha-GPC Vs. CDP Choline

Alpha-GPC raises choline blood levels much more than CDP-Choline.

While there is some speculation around the fringe benefits that may come with the Cytidine component of CDP-Choline, in general, the main reason we would use either Alpha-GPC or CDP-Choline is to supplement our diet and raise our Choline levels.

Alpha-GPC accomplishes this better than CDP-Choline.

Our Alpha-GPC is 50% Choline by weight, whereas CDP-Choline is only about 18% Choline by weight.

That means that you would need to use almost three times as much CDP-Choline to get the same amount of Choline as Alpha-GPC.

Are any of the companies out there with CDP-Choline in their formulas putting 1600-1700 mg of CDP-Choline per daily dose in their products?

Not even close.

Many companies still use Citicoline (CDP Choline) in their Nootropic formulas, despite the fact that Alpha-GPC has shown time and time again to be more effective both anecdotally, as well as clinically [R].

From what I've seen, the most reputable anti-aging “biohackers” in the industry also prefer Alpha-GPC over CDP-Choline.

Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) – 500 mg

Kanna supplementation has been found to effectively lower stress, elevate mood and increase focus.

Personally, I notice a huge boost in my mood and I lock in a little bit more on whatever I am trying to concentrate on when I supplement with Kanna.

Kanna was a huge success in our pre-workout formula because it also complements stimulants very well, which you have probably found out first hand if you have tried Gorilla Mode.

Kanna works mainly via increasing the amount of serotonin available in the brain, and is typically utilized for its anti-anxiety and mood elevating effects [R].

This is an ingredient you will really feel, and can be especially useful for those days you need something effective that isn’t stimulant based.

Anecdotally, a dose between 200-500 mg of Kanna has shown to be ideal for oral ingestion.

Higher dosages between 1-2 grams have been associated with unwanted side effects like dizziness.

Kanna has no addictive properties, and it is not hallucinogenic [R, R].

One thing to keep in mind with Kanna use is that it has a high affinity for the serotonin transporter.

Therefore, it is plausible that Kanna can interfere with SSRI pharmaceuticals.

Bacopa Monnieri (standardized to 45% Bacosides) – 400 mg

Bacopa Monnieri is typically used as a memory enhancing Nootropic.

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Bacopa Monnieri can protect neurons in the brain from accumulative damage, reduce β-amyloid levels in the brain, and improve cognitive performance by modulating neurotransmitters [R].

The efficacy of Bacopa Monnieri has been reinforced in six high-quality randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trials.

The results suggest that Bacopa Monnieri not only has the potential to attenuate neurodegenerative disease progression, but it may also be a potent memory enhancing agent in otherwise healthy individuals.

Improved Verbal Recall – Bacopa Monnieri Vs. Modafinil Study

In a meta-analysis, long-term Bacopa Monnieri supplementation produced more consistent and noticeable positive effects than Modafinil [R].

Primarily, Bacopa Monnieri was shown to be very effective at improving verbal recall.

This suggests that Bacopa Monnieri would be especially useful for memorizing long speeches, business presentations, songs, scripts, etc.

Apparently Bacopa Monnieri was used by ancient Vedic scholars to memorize lengthy hymns and scriptures, which would reinforce the clinical findings.

Improved Information Retention And Memory Consolidation

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study conducted on 46 healthy adults assessed the efficacy of supplementing 300 mg per day of Bacopa Monnieri for 12 weeks [R].

23 subjects received Bacopa Monnieri, and 23 subjects received placebo.

A battery of well-validated neuropsychological tests were used to assess Bacopa's efficacy as a Nootropic.

The Bacopa Monnieri treated group had significantly improved speed of visual information processing, learning rate, memory consolidation, and state anxiety compared to placebo, with maximal effects evident after 12 weeks.

Improved Memory And Attention

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted on 91 people with minor brain damage, a combination of L-Theanine and green tea extract improved memory, attention span, and alertness during a memory test [R].

Improved Verbal Fluency And Executive Function

In another randomized controlled trial, 30 healthy adults were given 200 mg of L-Theanine per day, or placebo.

Stress levels also went down, and sleep quality also increased after L-Theanine administration.

Improved Reaction Time

In another study conducted on 18 healthy University student volunteers, 200 mg of L-Theanine improved attention performance and reaction time response [R].

Neuroprotection

In a study conducted on elderly volunteers with normal or minor cognitive dysfunction, volunteers who ingested powdered green tea containing 47.5 mg of theanine per day showed significantly lower decline in cognitive function compared with that of the placebo group [R].

Bioperine is a trademarked form of black pepper extract standardized to 95% Piperine.

Black pepper extract is a very effective CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein inhibitor [R].

These enzymes break down molecules like epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body.

By prolonging the breakdown of the cognitive enhancing ingredients in this formula, Bioperine extends how long they work for, and can also significantly increase their bioavailability.

Huperzine A – 400 mcg

Huperzine A works by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase in the brain, which is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine is not only a major regulator of cognitive performance, but it is also an important neurotransmitter needed for optimal muscular contractions during exercise.

Huperzine A has shown to promote neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons in the brain) and act as a neuroprotective agent for existing neurons in the brain.

In turn, Huperzine A has shown to enhance memory, focus and overall cognitive function [R, R].

Huperzine A is one of the most potent Nootropics that you can really “feel” and it complements the other Nootropics in this formula perfectly.

Other Notable Compounds I Didn’t Include In The Formula And Why

Noopept, Racetams, Other Synthetic Nootropics And Prodrugs

Although they are effective Nootropics, Noopept, Racetams (class of drugs all named with the suffix “racetam”), prodrugs like Adrafinil, and other synthetic compounds that cannot be found in nature or in the food supply are not DSHEA compliant and cannot be legally sold as dietary supplements, so we did not include any.

If this wasn't the case, I probably would have included 30 mg of Noopept in the formula.

Vitamins

Vitamins are often included in Nootropic formulas to make a supplement facts panel look more impressive.

If a company is willing to sacrifice room in their capsules to inflate their ingredient profile with stuff you very likely already get from diet or a multivitamin, that is a major red flag.

More often than not, the dosages included are next to useless and are just there to make a product look more comprehensive.

The main issue with this is that you only have so much room in a capsule.

Most Nootropic products use a “00” capsule size in their bottles.

Each “00” sized capsule can fit about 735 mg in it.

That is precious space, and including a useful amount of vitamins in a product can easily take up several capsules of space.

If a company is wasting space with vitamins and only has a serving size of around 6 capsules, they are probably just trying to hide the fact that the actual Nootropics portion of their formula is watered down garbage.

Conclusion – What To Expect From Gorilla Mind Smooth

In general, you can expect clear headed mental clarity, as well as improved information retention, creativity, productivity and concentration.

Gorilla Mind Smooth is not designed to jack your brain into high gear, as that is a stimulant driven mechanism.

Rather, it is purely meant to enhance cognitive function and overall mental performance.

Great informaiton Derek as always. I’ve beginning to look at this sight througout the week for useful information. I only heard of Neutropics from reading several of Asprey’s books. Thank you for sharing.